The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-17
Children's Home.

TO the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
More than ten years ago came from Indiana,
my native State and took position in the
Children's Home of this city. Perhaps my most
noteworthy work within that time in connection
with the institution, has been the placing. in the
aggregate, of twelve 20 fifteen hundred children
in good country homes. This is but part of
ethe work of the home. Since its Incorporation
IN the fall of GA, nearly ten thousand homeless
dear boys and girls have had the care needed for
Che time needed. This is certainly glorious
work, and it is unendowed, and tho ugh Christian,
unsectarlan. Too much praise can not be
corded the noble men and women that, as man
bgers and contributors. have carried this work
iplong, until to-day it is the first and sweetest
benevolenee In the hearts of our citizens.
So much foregoing to show how have been
educated in the past decade. and then. as fur
,ther premise, to say am still loyal Hoosier
fnd visit manv homes in Indiana that have mem
bers of our Home family. I want to ado as
4 have watched the State and it's
counties in their care of their dependent chill
dren. Six years ago this winter a bill was
drafted and passed the Legislature easily, re-
leving county poor. houses Earthly bells for
children-l know what say) of all under Ger
tain low age, and empowering the County Com
missioners to hire or build place for their ac-
commcIation, and employ a matron for their
care. A few counties had anticipated such ac-
lion and provided homes; many since have done
TO- all to find the good, so far as it goes of such
work Some are just organizing; Tippecanoe,
through the people Of Lafayette, for instance,
snd yet quite large per cent. Of counties are
ftill motionless and absolutely thoughtless in
the matter. May I say. unbiased as to party
feelings In the case, while the present Legisla-
fure is winning WIDE and, may be- questionable
Jane IN the leutenant-governor shlp contest,
they could easily get fame, not wide, per-
lint nndr HVrp hiv~r~ Al =
august body, and helpful to coming generations
OF helpless childhood that only ask chance
Grst, In some such law as q compulsory educa-
ZION enactment. Take the children out
OF the poor-houses all over the State;
get them away from the adult demoralizing pau
pers and this work done by q special agent, an
ewering TO secretary of board of State chart
Nes he to see, first that every county does
elch work. and then take those children
yho have been too long in the 0vercrowded
homes already organized for some years, who
pre- ready and place them in individual homes,
pany such homes waiting to take these children
r. their own. This agency may be created by
fhe Legislature and his work have its needed
appropriation
Long ago we have provided for adult insane.
Tor the blind and deaf-mute youth, but these
slear-headed, life full. unframed and helpless
,nonodys children" ready to our hands for
teadine to good citizenship, we criminally allow
70 slough off into mere nothipgness or active
agency OF evil, necessarily drifting thence in the
roe OF their terribly debased surroundings ]
Ano~ msn In in the present Legislature who, If
the'r attention were called to this helpless and
peipabe condition of the children dependent
upon them, would not rest until they had done
what simply humanity, to say nothing of any
nigher motive. calls for at their hands Nav
spsak, In closing, of one or two OF your citizens
VINO have been aggressive in such effortg DR..
". NJ harriott, grand, child loving and effect
I've man, now gone to his reward and Rev
byron Reed. who was broad and persistent in
tnls especially. and in every eeemosynary
work bnt now removed from the State
CINoINNATI Jan. Q. 1887. G. T. GREEN